Box Score


SHAWNEE, OK: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (15-15) advanced to the second round of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament hosted by Oklahoma Baptist University with an 80-59 win over Northwood University (9-22) at the Mabee Arena on Wednesday.
 
The Lady Rams took control from tip-off, bouncing out to 9-1 lead capped by a pair of free throws from Onyesonam Nolisa. A Br'ria Wagner three pointer cut the lead to 11-6, but Wesleyan jumped back out to a 10-point, 18-8 lead on a Takoia Larry jumper. The Knights went on a 6-0 run capped by a Leslie Caballero two-pointer to bring Northwood within one at 20-19. The Lady Rams dug deep to hold the lead, slowly grabbing a 32-23 lead on a Caitlin Boal knock down shot. Northwood cut into the lead a tad, as the two teams went to halftime, 35-29.
 
Texas Wesleyan pushed the lead to 12 to start the second half for a 46-34 advantage. The Knights ran out of steam and never had a chance in the second half as the Lady Rams sustained a 10-point lead or better. The Lady Rams led by as many as 22 with an Amy Moody Jumper with eight minutes remaining,  and again to end the game with a Kayla McCray two-point splash to eclipse 1,000 career points on the way to an 80-51 win.
 
The Lady Rams shot 46 percent from the field, while holding Northwood to 32 percent. Wesleyan outscored the Knights 50-20 in the paint, and 12-6 on second chance points. Neither team converted any fast break points.
 
McCray is the 12th Lady Ram to join the 1,000 point club by notching a double-double featuring 17 points and 10 rebounds in the win. She currently sits at 1,001 points. She is the first player to pass the prestigious mark since All-American Brittany White (1,061) in 2012.  
 
Head Coach Bill Franey knows this was an important win on more than one level, "Great win today, we got the job done. Kayla [McCray] has been a consistent force for the team for three solid years on her way to the 1,000 point mark. She is a young Lady who takes care of business on and off the court. She will graduate this spring, and I am sure she will be a success in her chosen field, but first we want her to score a few more points and get us three more wins in this conference tournament."
 
Boal led the Lady Rams with 20 points. ToiEasha Cooper posted 10 points and seven boards. Moody had nine points, four rebounds, and five assists in the game. Nolisa notched nine points and 11 rebounds.  
 
The Lady Rams will play third seeded Wayland Baptist University tomorrow at the Mabee Arena in the Noble Complex starting at 9:00 am.